Fruit-washing machine



Mayg, E 923.

' 3,456,45@ L. N. MALLER y FRUIT WASHING MACHINE Flet Dec. 2l. 3.922 `#i Sheets-Sheet l L. N. MLLER FRUIT WASHING MACHINE Filed Dec.

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L. N. MMLER www WASHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 2l. 1922 l Q sheees-sheez SH01 ne May 2% 21923,

. L. N. MLLER FRUIT WASHING MACHINE Filed Dec., 2z., 1922 .4 sheets-shei 4 akfouwq Patented hlay Z2, i923.

kedada@ LAURITZ N. MLLER, OF EUGENE, OREGON.

FRUIT-VASQNG INLCHINE.

Application filed December 21, 1922.

[o all ifi/wm t may concern Be it known that l, LAUnI'ra N. hilrrinnn, a citizen of the TJnited Statesrof America residing at Eugene, in the county of Lane7 State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Fruit-fashing Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description of lthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertain's to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for cleansing or washing fruit, having for an object to pr vide a machine for washing prunes and discharging the same onto trays for drying, comprehending means for receiving and agitatin the prunes in process of being washed whereby to remove any and all foreign matter therefrom, the washed prunes being conveyed to a further cleansing bath and then delivered onto drying` trays.

lt is also an object of the invention to provide the device with means for imparting and controlling the transmission of motion to the conveying and agitating means thereof, the saine being so arranged as to be operable with but a minimum number of attendants and in consequence, serving to effect material saving on the part of a user.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described employing a novel form of mechanism for imparting vibratory motion to the prune receiving` and washing basket, whereby it will be caused to eifectually agitate its contents and then to automatically discharge such contents therefrom onto the conveying means.

Among other aims and objects of the invention may be mentioned the provision of means for automatically controlling the discharge of a cleansing spray onto the washed prunes subsequently to their discharge from the receiving and washing basket and as the washed prunes are being conveyed therefrom onto the drying trays.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

ln order that the invention may be read-- ily understood by persons skilled in the Serial No. 608,271.

art, l have in the accompanying illustrative drawings, and 1n the detailed following description based thereon, set out several possible embodiments of the same.

In these drawings z- Figurel is a side elevation of the improved machine;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section therethrough g Figure 3 is an end elevation of the same;

Figure t is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 4 4; of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail in elevation of the sprinkler or sprayer conduit;

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical transverse section in detail taken on the line 66 of Figure 5 looking in the direction in which the arrows point;

Figure Y is a detail in elevation of the means for imparting vibratory motion to the prune receiving and washing basket;

Figure 8 is a similar view taken at substantially right angles to the Figure 7,

Figure 9 is a side elevation, having a part thereof broken away and shown in longitudinal section of a modified form of the apparatus wherein the same is manually operated, and,

Figure 10 is a fragmentary detail in elevation of the driving connection between the manual operating means and the conveying` means of the apparatus.

Having more particular reference to the drawings, in connection with which like characters of reference will designate corresponding parts throughout, the improved washing device may be stated to comprise a supporting frame generally indicated by the numeral l, including legs 2 for an ob-v vious purpose. Upon one portion of the supporting frame, there is arranged a tank 3 having an inclined forwardly disposed end 4:, while a transversely disposed parti-- tion or deflecting board 5 is arranged within the tank 3 across its intermediate portion.

A prune receiving and agitating basket 6 is arranged in the rearward portion of the tank 3, having an inclined bottom composed of longitudinally disposed relatively spaced rods 7 the forward and shallower end of said basket having suitable bearings thereon whereby the same may be pivot'ally sup` ported adjacent one marginal portion of the detlecting board as indicated at 8.

`With a view towardsproviding means for imparting vibrator-y movement to the prune receiving and washing'basket T, bearing blocks 9l are arranged upon the upper inarginal portions of the several sides ol the tank 3, intermediate their ends, and serve to rotatably support therein a transversely disposed shatt'lO, having a plurality ot arms iXedly mounted thereon, one otwhich is indicated by the numeral 11 and extends longitudinally and rearwardly of the tank 3 to a point in proximity to the rearward or deeper end oi' said basket 3, whereat a link 12 is pivoted to the same and correspondingly connected at its opposite end as at 13,

to a portion ot said basket vG. Arlrnother arm 14 et' angular 'l'ormatlon is mounted intermediate its ends upon the transversely disposed shaft l() and carries a counter-weight f having one end thereof extended beyond the its outer end or marginal portion is inclinedx adjacent or corresponding side of said tank, whereby a sprocket wheel 2O may be fixedly mounted thereon together with a disc 21, the

`latter being spaced inwardly with relation to the sprocketwheel 2O and having` a plu- `rality of circularl arraneed and saaced tripping lingers 22 and 23 arranged upon one face thereof, while another tripping finger 2% is arranged upon its opposite or inner tace for a purpose which will-be hereinafter described. In this connection,\it is to be noted that the iinger 23 is of a length greater' than the lengths ot the three lingers 22, but that in a manner corresponding to the forming ot the outer ends of said fingers 22. An arm is loosely mounted through the medium of a yoke 26 upon the extended extremity ot the shaft 18 and has pivotal connection as vat 27 with the lower and adjacent end et the connecting rod 16, said arm 25 being so disposed with relation to the outer :tace of the disc 21 as to be engaged by the various iingers 22 and 23 during rotation oi the shalt 18. However, it is to be noted at this point thatthe lengths of the lingers 22 are-such as will impart upward thrusts to the arm 25 but at the same time, permit said arm 25 to ybecome disengaged therefrom because* oi their inclined outer ends. rllhe ringer 23, however, is or a length suiicient to maintain its engagement with the arm 25 'for a period of time greater than will be that of the llinger 22 and in consequence7 it will be understood that the upward movement ot the arm 25 when engaged by said finger 23 will be greater and for a longer period of time. ln consequence, it follows that with engagement of the linger 22 with the arm 25, a jigging or vibratory movement will be imparted to the connecting rod 16 by way or the arm 25. However, when the linger 23 engages said arm 25, the upward movement of the conneeting rod 16 will be greater and in consequence, because oi' its connection with the prune receiving and washing basket 6 throughthe arm 11, said basket 6 will be raised to a substantially perpendicular position with respect to the tank 3, hence permitting its washed or cleansed contents to be discharged therefrom onto the deliecting board 5 for a purpose to be describec.

Rotary motion is 'transmitted to the shaft 18 through the medium of a sprocket chain 23 passing about the eircumterentially disposed teeth of the sprocket wheel 20 and likewise about a sprocket wheel`29 carried upon a clutch element 30 loosely mounted on one laterally extended end ot a shaft 31 mounted in bearings upon the supporting frame 1 slightly beyond the inclined forward end ot the tank 3 and disposed transversely of the same. Upon the opposite end of this shaft 31 there is mounted a pulley wheel 32 with which suitable belt gearing or the like is adapted to be engaged and connected with a suitable source of motive power,"not shown. ln order that the transmission of rotary motion to the sprocket wheel 20 may be controlled at will by an operator or attendant of the machinelocated adjacent its rearward end and supervising operation ot the prune receiving and washing basket 6, a lever 33 is slidably mounted upon one side oi the tank 3, being received lin suitable supporting brackets Slvand having its outer endprovided with an extended handle 35 for an obvious purpose. 'l he inner end ot this lever 33 is pivotally connected to one ot the right angular arms of a bell crank lever 3G pivn otally mounted upon a bracket 37 secured to the rearward end of the corresponding side oi said tank 3; the opposite end of the bell crank lever 33 being provided Vwith a yoke engaging a slidable clutch 38 splined upon the shaitjll and adapted to engage, at times, with the clutch element 29 loosely mounted upon the correspondingend of said shaft 3l. rlhus, it ,willy be seen that by imparting a push to the lever 35, the bell crank lever 36 will be rocked in a direction to eli'ect disengagement et the splined clutch element 33 from the loosely mounted clutch element 29 and because of this, the transmission of ro-V tary motion to the sprocket wheel 2O will be interrupted. However, by impartino` pull to the lever 33, the bell crank lever 36 will be rocked in an opposite direction and in doing so, will cause the splined clutch element 3S to be reengaged with the loosely mounted clutch element 29, thus reestablishing driving connection as between the same and the shaft 31, hence, permitting the sprocket chain 28 to transmit rotary motion to the sprocket wheel 20.

ln order that the washed or cleansed prunes may be removed from the tank 3 subsequent to their discharge from the basket 6 onto the deflecting board 5, side members or supporting frames 39 are arranged adjacent the inner sides and the inclined forward end of the tank 3 and support at their opposite ends shafts 40 receiving sprocket wheels 41 thereon about which sprocket chains 42 are arranged; these sprocket chains having transversely'disposed strips 43 arranged thereon whereby to afford forms of buckets or cups for receiving and retaining the washed prunes as they are delivered onto the conveyor so constituted from the inclined deilecting board 5. In

this way, it will be understood that the washed or cleansed prunes will be elevated A from the tank 3, whereupon they are dis.-

charged from the endless conveyor onto another inclined delecting board 44 from whence they are directed into suitable trays 45 supported upon a table or rack 46 provided upon the forward or adjacent portion of the supporting frame 1. Such racks, upon being filled, may be removed from the supporting` rack 46 in order that the contents thereof may be dried.

To transmit rotary motion to the endless conveyor constituted by the sprocket chain 42 and the transverse strips 43, one end of the uppermost of the shafts 40 is extended and has a fly wheel 47 fixedly mounted thereon. about which an endless belt 48 is engaged, the lower end of said belt passing about a pulley wheel 49 fixedly mounted upon the loosely mounted clutch element 30, heretofore described. Thus, it will be understood that rotary driving motion will be transmitted from the shaft 31 to the pulley wheel 30 and from thence, by way of the endless belt 48 to the pulley wheel 47 in order that motion may be imparted to the endless conveyor referred to.

lt is desirable, however, that means be provided for regulating or controlling movement of the endless conveyor constituted by the sprocket chain 42 and the transverse strips 43, and to accomplish this, a clutch element 50 is loosely mounted upon the extended end of the uppermost shaft- 40 and receives directly thereon the heretofore described pulley wheel 47. A second clutch element 51 is splined4 to the adjacent portion of the uppermost shaft 40 and is adapted to be engaged, at times, with the clutch element 50 whereby to effect a driving connection as between the same and said uppermost shaft 40. This splined clutch element 51 is controlled by means of a horizontally movable lever 52 pivotally` supported as at 53 upon an adjacent portion of the supporting frame 1, the outer end of said controlling lever 52 being connected to one end of a bell crank lever 54 mounted as at 55 upon one side of the table or rack portion 46 provided on the supporting frame 1. To the remaining end of this bell crank lever 54 there is connected a rod 56 extending downwardly into engagement with a pedal or foot lever 57 pivotally supported as at 58 upon the lower forward portion of the supporting frame 1, as shown in the Figure 1; a contractile coiled spring 59 being connected to a portion of the same and to an adjacent portion of the supporting frame 1 for an obvious purpose.

A water supplying conduit 60 isl extended into proximity to the upper portion of the endless conveyor heretofore referred to, whereat itis provided with a horizontally disposed elbow 61 having a plurality of perforations 62 formed in the lower side thereof and so disposed as to permit the spraying of water supplied from said conduit 60 onto the contents of the endless conveyor as the same are being elevated from the washing solution or Huid contained in the tank 3. Thus, a second cleansing bath will be directed upon the prunes prior to their delivery onto the drying traysr45. To control the spraying of water onto the prunes arranged on the endless conveyor, a valve 63 is provided, consisting of a strip of leather or similar material arranged within and directly adjacent the openings 62. Arms 64 are extended from this valve element downwardly into engagement with levers 65 carried upon a shaft 66 mounted in suitable bearing brackets 67 secured to portions of said elbow 61. Thus, it will be understood that with rocking of the levers 65 in the proper direction, the valve 63 may be moved away from or over the spraying openings 62 whereby to regulate or control the iiow of water therethrough. A connecting rod 68 is pivotally secured at one end to the lever 65 as shown in the Figure 6, and has connection at its opposite end with one portion of a bell crank lever 69 pivotally mounted upon one side of the tank 3, the opposite end of said lever having pivotal connection with a second connecting rod 70, which in turn is connected through the medium of another bell crank lever 71 to yet another connecting rod 72 extending downwardly into engagement with a portion of the foot lever 57. Because of the connection of the lever 65 with the foot lever 57, it will be understood that with. rocking of the latter, movement of the valve 63 onto or from the spraying openings 62 sprocket wheel 4may be controlled by an operator or attend f may be reviewed as follows:

A suitable cleasing solution or iiuid is placed in the tank 3, overflow ot' the same being taken care oit by way ot an overflow port 73 adjacent theupper portion of the tank. Primes to be washed are placed 1n the basket 6, whereupon the rotating shaft 3l is connected to the loosely mounted clutch element 29 by operation of the lever 33. At this time, rotary motion will be conveyed by way of the sprocket chain 28 to the I 20, thus rotating the shatt 18 and causing` correspomiling rotation ot the disc 2l carrying the tripping lingers 22 and 23. llith engagement of the tripping lingers 22 and in their sequential order with the pivoted trip-ping arm 25, it will be understood that vibratory or jigging` sil movement will be imparted to the basket 6 by way oit' the connecting rod 16, the lever lll: and the arm ll through the link l2.

1With engagement of tne tripping linger 28 with the arm 25, thc upward pivotal movement ol the prune receiving and washing basket 6 will be greater than its prior movement due to engagement ot' the finger 22 with said arm and at this time, said basket 6 will be raised to a substantially perpendhzular position withrespect to the tank 3, thus permitting its washed contents to be discharged theretrom onto the inclined defiecting board llilith discharge ot the washed contents of the basket 6 onto the inclined deiecting board 5, the same will he delivered onto the endless conveyor constituted by the sprocket chain l2 and the transverse strip 43, such conveyor being rotated at this time through its gearing to the pulley wheel. mounted on the extended end ot the shatt 81. However, in order that rotary motion may be directed to the uppermost sha't't 40 ot the endless conveyor, the foot lever' 5T is depressed, thus cruising' jiiivotal movement ot' the lever 52 in a direction to effect engagement ot the splined clutch element 5l with the loosely mounted clutch element 50 carrying thereon the upper pulley wheel d?. Thus, the washed prunes are conveyed upwardly on the end-l less conveyor and elevated from the tank 3. However, during their upward movement from the tank 3, a second cleansing bath fromthe spray coming from the openings 62 in the elbow 6l ofthe water supply conduit 60 is directed thereonto, such cleansing spray occurring` vith operation of the toot lever 57 because ot the connection ot the valve strip 63 therewith through the medium of the connecting rods 68, and 72. llith continued upward movement ot the now thoroughly cleansed prunes on the endless conveyor, they will be discharged therefrom onto the inclined deflecting board le from whence they will be spread upon drying trays 45 arranged on the rack 46 provided therefor on the supporting trame l. At this time, the cleansed prunes may be removed and placed in a suitable dryingv l2 to a transversely disposed shaft l0v mounted in bearings 9 upon the upper marginal portions ofthe several sides of the tank 3; other arms lil. being also liXedly mounted upon the shatt l0 and having a counter weight l5 arranged upon its upper tree end. A second arm 73 is ixedly mounted at one end upon the shaft l0 and is connected through a rod or bar 74 disposed longitudinally ot and adjacent one side of the tank 3 to a rocking lever 75 mounted in a suitable bracket 7 6 upon the floor or other support receiving the device in proximity to the rear end thereof. Thus, it will be understood that by rocking the lever .75, vibratory or jigging movement will be imparted to the prune'receivingl and washing basket 6 and that when it is desired to dump or discharge the contents ot said basket 'from the same onto the inclined delecting` board 5, a greater pull or rocking` ot the lever 75 is effected, thus raising said basket 6 to a substantially vertical or perpendicular position.

An endless conveyor 77 is arranged adjacent the forwardly inclined end ot the tank 3 and has a pulley wheel 78 liXedly mounted upon an extended end of the uppermost shaft thereof which pulley wheel receives a belt 79 thereover,y having one end connected to a staple or similar device, asl

at 80 to a foot operated lever 8l, while upon the oppositel end of said belt,l there is arranged a counter weight 82. Thus, with rocking oit' the toot lever 81,'rotary motion will be imparted to the uppermost shaft ot the endless conveyor whereby the conveying belt thereof may be moved for elevating the washed prunes discharged thereonto from the delecting board 5. However, in order that a uni-directional rotary movement may be imparted to the endless conveyor, I provide a slip clutch connection generally indicated by the numeral 83 and clearly shown in the Figure 10. By means of this slip clutch connection, a unidirectional rotary motionfwill be imparted to the endless conveyor, namely, with depression ot the toot lever 8l. lVith return of said toot lever to its uppermost position under influence ot the counter weight i 82 arranged on the free end of the belt 79, slippage as betivcen the uppermost shaft ot the endless conveyor and the slip clutch 83 Will occur, thus preventing the transmission ot rotary movement in an opposite direction to said conveyor.

The toot lever 81 is arranged longitudinally oit an adjacent one side of the supporting frame l ot the device, being pivoted thereto as indicated at 8a, While the forward or tree end of said lever is guided by means of a guide or bracket strip 85 secured to the adjacent portion of said supporting frame l. Hence, it will be understood that the upvvard pivotal movement of the lever 81 Will be limited.

ln order that the cleansing spray directed onto the prunes being elevated upon the endless conveyor may be controlled in unison *ith the transmission ot rotary motion to the endless conveyor, a connecting rod 86 is pivotally connected to the valve operating lever G5 and has its lower end connected as at 87 to a portion of the foot lever 8l. rlhus, With depression of said footlever for transmittingrotary motion to the endless conveyor 77, the valve operated by the lever 65 Will be moved to open position for imparting a cleansing spray to the Washed prunes being elevated from the tank 3.

Manitestly. the construction shown is capable of considerable modification, and such modification as is Within the scope of my claims l consider Within the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

LA prune Washing machine comprising a supporting frame, a tank thereon, a. prune receiving and Washing basket pivotally supported in said tank, means for imparting vibratory motion to said basket and moving the same to dumping position at a predetermined time, conveying means for receiving the Washed prunes from said basket and delivering the same from the tank, and spraying means in proximity to said conveying means for Washing the prunes being elevated thereon.

2. A prune 'Washing machine comprising a supporting trame,.a tank thereon, a prune receiving and Washing basket pivotally supported in said tank having the bottom thereof composed of a plurality of longitudinally disposed rods, means for imparting vibratory motion to said basket and moving the same to dumping position at a predetermined time, conveying means tor receiving the Washed prunes from said basket and delivering the same from the tank, a spraying means in proximity to said conveying means tor washing the prunes being elevated thereon, and a common means for controlling movement of said conveying means and the passage of Water from said spraying means.

3. A prune Washing machine comprising av supporting trame, a tank thereon, a prune receiving and Washing basket having` a toraminated bottom pivotally supported in said tanl' an inclined deflecting board arranged transversely of and Within the tank, means for imparting vibratory movement to said basket and moving the same to dumping positions at a predetermined time, conveying means arranged adjacent one end ot the tank extending therein into proximity to said deflecting board for receiving prunes trom said basket and delivering the same from the tank, a sprayer disposed transversely of and arranged in proximity to the intermediate portion o't said conveying means, valve means for said sprayer and a common means tor controlling movement of the conveying means and movement ot said valve to its open or closed position in said sprayer.

1l. A prune Washinof machine comprising a supporting trame, a tank thereon, a prune receiving and Washing basket pivotally supported inv said tank, a rotatable disc mounted adjacent one side of said tank, a plurality of fingers arranged on one tace of said disc, one orl said fingers being of a length greater than the remaining nger, a tripping arm arranged in proximity to said disc adapted to be tripped by engagement with said fingers, means for connecting said tripping arm to f the prune receiving and Washing basket whereby to permit the transmission of vibratory motion thereto and the raising of the same to a dumping position at a predetermined time, conveying means arranged adjacent one end of said tank adapted to receive the Washed prunes from said basket and deliver the same from said tank, a sprayer arranged in proximity to the intermediate portion of the conveying means, valve means for controlling the passage of Water from said sprayer, and a common means for controlling movementot said conveyor means and ofsaid valve in the sprayer.

5. A prune receiving and Washing machine comprising a frame, a tank thereon, a prune receiving and Washing basket having a toraminated bottom pivotally supported in and adjacent one end of said tank, an inclined detiecting board arranged transversely of and Within said tank, conveying means arranged in the opposite end of said tank, a rotatable disc supported adjacent one side of the tank having a plurality of tripping iingers thereon, one ot said fingers being of a length greater than the remaining iingers, a tripping arm adjacent said disc adapted to be engaged by said tripping fingers, means tor connecting said tripping arm with the prune receiving and Washing basket whereby to permit the transmission of vibratory motion thereto and the raising of the basket vto a dumping position upon engagement of the longer tripping finger with said tripping arm, a sprayer arranged in proximity to the-intermediate portion of the conveying 5 means, Valve means Within said sprayer for controlling the passage of Water therefrom, and a. common manually operatedymeans for Controlling the transmission of motion to the conveying means and thel regulating of said Valve means in the Sprayer. 10

In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand.

LAURITZ N. MILLER. 

